Opening:
Prayer is our way of talking with God in words and thoughts. Have you ever tried to call a friend or family member only to get no answer or a busy signal? We never get a busy signal or no answer when we call on God through prayer. We have a direct line to God through prayer. Are you using your direct line with God the way you should? Is prayer important to you? Do you pray every day, or is prayer just something you do on Sunday mornings at church? Let’s take a look at prayer through the eyes of Opal, Hannah, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Watch DVD Scene 1—(“Naomi”): Start time: 0:00—End Time: 6:18 (6:18)
Discussion Questions:
1. Does God always hear and answer our prayers? (God hears and answers the prayers of all Christians. He answers prayers according to His own will and in His own time.)
2. What things did Opal pray for in this scene? (For friends and to see her mother.) Did God answer Opal’s prayer? (Yes.)
3. What things do you pray for in your life? (Answers will vary.) Does God always answer your prayers the way you want Him to answer them? (No, God always answers pray according to His will and in His time.)
4. Read 1 Samuel 1:12-20. What was Hannah praying for in these verses? (For a child.) Did God answer her prayer? (Yes, she had a son named Samuel.)
5. Read Luke 1:46-50. Mary wasn’t asking God for anything in this prayer. What was Mary’s focus in this prayer? (Praising and thanking God. See verses 46, 47, 49.)
6. Read Psalm 34:1-4. (Explain to students that extol means to praise highly.) When God answers your prayers, do you always remember to thank and praise Him in prayer? (Answers will vary.)
7. Read Luke 18:1-8. What did this parable, told by Jesus, teach us about prayer? (V. 1 says we always should pray, never give up, and to be persistent as was the widow in the parable.)
8. Read Luke 18:9-14. In this parable, the Pharisee’s prayer focused on himself, while the tax collector focused on the mercy of God to forgive his sins. Which of the men went home justified before God? (The tax collector.) Why? (Because his prayer was about exalting God, unlike the Pharisee who focused on himself.
9. Read Matthew 26:36-39. This is Jesus praying to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane before He died on the cross. When we pray to God, should we pray for our will to be done or for God’s will to be done? (V.39, we see Jesus praying that God’s will be done. We should do the same by praying that God’s will, not ours, be done.)
10. Read Daniel 9:4-5. Daniel is confessing his sins in these verses. Do your prayers include telling God you have done wrong and asking for His forgiveness? (Answers will vary.) Should they? (Answers will vary.)
Closing Thought:
Hopefully, your prayers are about more than asking God for things you need. There is nothing wrong with asking, but it shouldn’t be the only part of your prayer. Are you thanking Him for the many blessings He has given you? Are you confessing your sins to Him and asking for forgiveness? God loves you and wants to talk with you. Be sure to connect with Him every day through prayer.
Closing Prayer
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matt. 21:22).
“As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.’ ‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’ Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him'” (1 Sam. 1:12-20).
“And Mary said, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation'” (Luke 1:46-50).
“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:1-4).
“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. e said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” ‘For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!” And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?'” (Luke 18:1-8).
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” ‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” ‘I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted'” (Luke 18:9-14).
“Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:36-39).
“I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from Your commands and laws'” (Dan. 9:4-5).
Additional lessons for each movie are available by emailing patrick99_28601@yahoo.com.
